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aclidinium vs theophylline

Side-by-side comparison of aclidinium and theophylline Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
aclidinium Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA)
theophylline Methylxanthine Bronchodilator
Type
aclidinium Prescription
theophylline Prescription
Summary
aclidinium

Duaklir Pressair is a combination medicine used to help people with COPD breathe better. It contains two medicines that open up the airways in your lungs.

theophylline

Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.

What It Treats
aclidinium

Duaklir Pressair is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open the airways and make it easier to breathe for people with COPD.

theophylline

Theophylline treats the symptoms of long-term asthma and other lung diseases. These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which make it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open up your airways so you can breathe easier.

How It Works
aclidinium

Duaklir Pressair contains two medicines that work in different ways. One medicine relaxes the muscles around your airways, opening them up. The other medicine prevents the muscles from tightening.

theophylline

Theophylline is a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.

Common Side Effects
aclidinium
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Headache
  • Back pain
theophylline
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
FAERS Reports
aclidinium
  • Difficulty breathing 1,869
  • Inhaler not working correctly 1,281
  • Skipped a dose of medicine 1,017
  • Asthma 814
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 764
theophylline
  • Difficulty breathing 2,273
  • Asthma 1,942
  • Pneumonia 1,317
  • Wheezing 1,306
  • Vomiting 1,101
Serious Warnings
aclidinium

LABAs, such as formoterol fumarate, one of the active ingredients in DUAKLIR PRESSAIR, increase the risk of asthma-related death. Duaklir Pressair is not for asthma. Do not use Duaklir Pressair if you are allergic to milk proteins or any of the ingredients in it. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating, diabetes, or seizures.

theophylline

If your theophylline levels get too high in your blood, it can cause serious side effects. These include severe vomiting, irregular heartbeats, and seizures. These can be life-threatening.

Pregnancy
aclidinium

It is not known if Duaklir Pressair will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Duaklir Pressair.

theophylline

It is not known if theophylline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if theophylline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This aclidinium vs theophylline Comparison

aclidinium is classified in the Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) drug class, while theophylline sits within the Methylxanthine Bronchodilator class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aclidinium has 5,745 submissions while theophylline has 7,939. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aclidinium and theophylline — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.